Home Care in Queens County, NY

Situated right next to Brooklyn and west of Staten Island, Queens County is the largest borough of the New York City metropolitan area. Over 360,000 adults over the age of 65 call Queens home. In addition to being the most multicultural urban area on the globe, New York City also ranked in the top 10 for Best Cities For Seniors in 2005.

Queens has the best climate in the state of New York and holds a score of 7.3 in the BestPlaces Comfort Index, with its temperatures usually ranging between 27 degrees in the winter months and 84 degrees during the warm seasons. Thanks to its diversity, Queens has plenty to offer retirees. If you are a nature enthusiast, you can enjoy a hike at Flushing Meadows Corona Park; culture and history buffs can appreciate the renowned Queens Museum of Art.

Additionally, the city has an array of programs and resources, such as the Forest Hills NARC, aimed at helping you age comfortably at home while enjoying a full life as a valued member of your community.

According to Genworth Financial’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey, both homemaker and home health aide providers in Queens County charge the same median monthly price of $4,957. Because home health care providers include added services such as skilled nursing and physical therapy, the median cost in some areas can be higher than for home care.

The price you’re likely to pay for home care services varies based on how many hours of care you actually need. Genworth bases its monthly estimate on 44 hours per week, which means the hourly cost for home care services averages about $28. For example, if you hire a homemaker for five days a week, four hours a day, then you can anticipate paying $2,253 each month.

The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities

While the Queens County cost for home care of $4,957 is on the higher end of the price range, you would pay the same in the nearby city of Poughkeepsie. Northeast, in Kingston, both home care and home health care costs are about $572 less than in Queens County. However, further northeast, the city of Albany is a bit more expensive than Queens; Albany’s median costs are $5,148 for home care and $5,196 for home health care.

Remember that there’s not necessarily a right or wrong choice – it comes down to choosing a provider that you feel comfortable with and who’s capable of meeting your specific needs. No matter which provider you choose, you should always have a formal arrangement with your expectations and the payment rate in writing. Doing so will prevent confusion or potential disagreements down the line so that the focus remains on helping the person receiving care.

Queens County Senior Citizen Resource Guide

What You Should Know 
Created by the Queens Borough President’s Office, this comprehensive guide includes a list of state- and county-operated senior programs and a full range of community services available to older adults. You can use this guide to locate and contact health care services, financial assistance programs, home care providers and much more.

Who Is Eligible? 
The Queens County Senior Citizen Resource guide can be of help to all older adults who are residents of Queens County.

How to Get Started 
The guide is downloadable in PDF format. For more information on the services listed, you can contact the Director of Health, Human Services & Seniors at (718) 286-2681.

Senior Citizen Homeowner Assistance Program (SCHAP)

What You Should Know 
This Parodneck Foundation-operated program can help you with a financial loan if you need home improvements or are in danger of losing your home. The Senior Citizen Homeowner Assistance Program offers three types of loan services: an emergency home improvement loan, a no-interest forgivable loan program, and a 3% interest loan program which you must pay back in small monthly installments over a 30-year period.

SCHAP is a financial aid program that’s been in place since 1986. It is the only New York-based program aimed at helping low-income seniors age in place. You may be eligible for financial aid to get your home refurbished to a better standard or even avoid losing your house in the case of a bank foreclosure.

Who Is Eligible?
You can access financial support if you’re a homeowner aged 60 and over and have been living in your house or apartment for at least a couple of years. You’re eligible to participate as long as your income is under 120% of the average income in your area.

How to Get Started
You can apply for a SCHAP loan online. You can also download the application and email it to [email protected] or fax it to (212) 431-9783. You can also call the help line at (212) 431-9700 ext. 311 to check if you qualify for the program.

Queens Community House Older Adults Services

What You Should Know
Queens County features five senior centers operated by the nonprofit Queens Community House. These centers offer a range of wellness classes, recreational activities and even congregate meals that let you socialize with peers in your area. QCH can arrange your transportation to and from the center and also offers free rides to medical and social appointments.

The Queens Community House provides a range of services, including meal delivery, respite care and preventative health care screening through its Naturally Occurring Retirement Community program. You can also receive information and support regarding financial assistance.

Who Is Eligible?
To be eligible for QCH’s programs and services, you must be at least 60 years old and live in Queens.

How to Get Started 
Visit the QCH website to find the address and contact details of your nearest senior center. For general inquiries about the programs operated by the Queens Community House, call (718) 592-5757 or email [email protected].

Community Advisory Program for the Elderly (CAPE)

What You Should Know
The Community Advisory Program for the Elderly is operated by Commonwealth Queens and runs several mental health clinics throughout the borough. If you need support with your mental well-being, CAPE offers assessments, medication, and individual and group therapy. In addition to its clinics, the program runs a mobile outreach service and telephone reassurance services you can access if you’re homebound or otherwise unable to attend in-person.

Another part of the CAPE program is the Oasis at Commonpoint monthly assessment clinic, through which you can attend and talk to a medical professional who can provide a care plan and referral to other available services. The cost for mental health services through CAPE is on an income-based sliding scale; CAPE also accepts Medicare and Medicaid coverage.

Who Is Eligible? 
This program is available to Queens residents aged 50 or over and their caregivers. Some of the clinics are only open to seniors who are at least 60 years old.

How to Get Started
You can set an appointment with a member of the CAPE program by dialing (718) 224-0566.

Aging Connect

What You Should Know 
New York City’s Department for the Aging offers a comprehensive list of services available to older adults. You can use the organization’s site to find resources available in your area or contact its counseling service, which is designed to help you navigate and understand the full range of city-funded programs aimed at seniors.

Aging Connect counselors can help you get in touch with your nearest senior center and access resources such as legal aid and employment assistance. Other benefits available through Aging Connect include financial aid, caregiver help and transportation.

Who Is Eligible?
Aging Connect is available to older adults and their caregivers who live in New York City.

How to Get Started 
You can get in touch with Aging Connect through the organization’s online contact form or by calling (212) 244-6469.